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Between the Shadow and the Soul: The Chosen One Series - Book One
One Prophecy. Two Paths. One leading to Damnation the other to Salvation…
Cassandra Rodden has struggled in life. At a young age, she lost her parents in a tragic accident and was sent to be raised by her non-magical grandmother. She travels to England from her home in the United States to attend Kingshire Academy, a school for witches of all ages. This is her first year attending and she struggles to catch up with the other Level 6 witches, all while getting entangled with a prophecy, romance, and controlling the emotions that have built up inside her. Doesn’t help that the Anarchy, a group of evil witches, takes notice of her attendance to the school. Questions build and Cassandra finds herself questioning everything about her life and even herself. But tragedy seems to follow her no matter where she goes or what she does. An Anarchy attack falls within the academy’s walls and Cassandra must push herself and her powers to limits never even imagined. Rumors swirl of her being the prophesized Chosen One. As Cassandra trains to fight for the forces of good to defeat those that are evil and save the ones she loves, she learns that it all comes down to her choice. Will she choose the right path and save them all?
Cassandra Rodden has struggled in life. At a young age, she lost her parents in a tragic accident and was sent to be raised by her non-magical grandmother. She travels to England from her home in the United States to attend Kingshire Academy, a school for witches of all ages. This is her first year attending and she struggles to catch up with the other Level 6 witches, all while getting entangled with a prophecy, romance, and controlling the emotions that have built up inside her. Doesn’t help that the Anarchy, a group of evil witches, takes notice of her attendance to the school. Questions build and Cassandra finds herself questioning everything about her life and even herself. But tragedy seems to follow her no matter where she goes or what she does. An Anarchy attack falls within the academy’s walls and Cassandra must push herself and her powers to limits never even imagined. Rumors swirl of her being the prophesized Chosen One. As Cassandra trains to fight for the forces of good to defeat those that are evil and save the ones she loves, she learns that it all comes down to her choice. Will she choose the right path and save them all?
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2021
7 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 18, 2021
4.5/5
"Darkness is absence of light so one must search to find balance between the shadow and the soul. I will be that light in the darkness."
Between the Shadow and the Soul is a new adult debut novel about a young witch named Cassie. At a young age, she had lost her parents in a tragic accident and was sent to be raised by her non-magical grandmother. We follow her as she travels to England from her home in the United States to attend Kingshire University, a school for witches of all ages. This is Cassie's first year attending and struggles to catch up with the other level 6 witches, all while getting entangled with the Anarchy, a prophecy, romance, and controlling the emotions that have built up inside her. As Cassie learns to control her emotions and powers, she learns to let down her walls to make new friends and enjoy her time at Kingshire. But tragedy seems to follow Cassie no matter where she goes or what she does, and the evil group of witches known as the Anarchy are very interested in her attendance at the school. As Cassie trains to fight for the forces of good to defeat those that are evil and save the ones she loves, she learns that it all comes down to her choice. Will she choose the right path and save them all?
This book was exhilarating, deep, raw, and down right dirty. It was the sexy, moody world of my dreams full of magical beings.
I was immediately sucked into Cassie's world just waiting to learn about the depths of her tragedies and how powerful she could be. I loved the progression of her character as she began her story as a closed-off bud, and blossomed into something far more intricate and beautiful. Having her open up to people like her roommate Nora really brought her to life from her tragic past and definitely made me want to be their best friends. I was also very invested in Cassie's love interests and held my breath every time a "will they, won't they" scene came into play. I spent days after finishing the book just going back over the slow development of her romances and how hard it all made me feel. Not only that, but there were some VERY steamy scenes that I also happened to enjoy. I would be lying if I said they didn't help drive me to binge this entire book in one evening.
"The electricity between us was intoxicating as our magic swirled together between us. I had never felt so alive in my life. My body ached to feel his lips against mine. We were both the moons puppets now as my lips parted slightly. He grabbed my waist with one arm and treaded with the other."
One of the other biggest things that really stuck out to me was how well the story had flowed. The plot was well defined, and though I had guessed some of the plot twists before they happened, I was still left pleasantly surprised throughout the story. There were some very shocking scenes (see my content/trigger warnings below for context) that left me gutted and feeling emotionally hollow, but I think they really added to the uniqueness of the story without adding any cheap shock factor. Some of these fictional scenes really shed light on some very real, nonfictional issues that as a reader I really appreciate because it only adds to the normalization of talking about these topics.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well the author focused on certain subject matters, such as fight scenes and witchcraft, and not only made them readable, but also made me appreciate the time and effort spent on examining those subjects before writing about them. If you're a HP fan like me, then you may have also been bored to death every time you read a Quidditch scene. I am happy to report that the fight scenes in Between the Shadow and the Soul are no where near that kind of snore fest and kept me turning the page just as quickly as I had for the steamy scenes. I just thought they were so well written, and as someone who dabbles in witchcraft, I was pleasantly surprised by the accuracy of herbs, spells, and tactical fighting.
There were a few things that dropped my rating down. In the beginning, the character dialog was very awkward and clunky, and Cassie's voice also seemed somewhat immature compared to her age of 22 years old. But as the story went on, this actually got better. Dialog flowed smoothly and we watched as the characters got to know each other while Cassie grew up. Along with this, there were also a few times where I had to push past some cliché plot moments where things just magically (no pun intended) fell into our protagonists lap with a big bow wrapped around it. Lastly, I am a reader who has a big beef with sexual scenes where there is no mention of protection. Its a small pet peeve that I don't hold against authors personally, but as a progressive romance reader, I appreciate the thought that goes into mentioning it. Not necessarily a spoiler (I hope), but the sexual scenes in this book did not mention the use of contraceptives, but they did however touch on consent!
The fantasy romance lover that I am ate this book up, and I am anxiously awaiting for its release so I can buy a copy to reread so that I can feel all of the feels again. Not only that, but I will need something to do until book number two is ready! The ending was left at one of those cliff hangers that has you gouging your eyes out just thinking about all of the questions you have. I'm still thinking about it two weeks after finishing the book, trying to fill in all of the blanks in my soul. I can't wait to dive back into Cassie's mind as she continues to fight and explore her dark magical world.
Content/Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault, rape, suicide, death, bullying, abuse, mention of drug use, drinking, violence/fight scenes, swearing, sex/sexual encounters
I was provided an ARC for review by the author in exchange for an honest review.
"Darkness is absence of light so one must search to find balance between the shadow and the soul. I will be that light in the darkness."
Between the Shadow and the Soul is a new adult debut novel about a young witch named Cassie. At a young age, she had lost her parents in a tragic accident and was sent to be raised by her non-magical grandmother. We follow her as she travels to England from her home in the United States to attend Kingshire University, a school for witches of all ages. This is Cassie's first year attending and struggles to catch up with the other level 6 witches, all while getting entangled with the Anarchy, a prophecy, romance, and controlling the emotions that have built up inside her. As Cassie learns to control her emotions and powers, she learns to let down her walls to make new friends and enjoy her time at Kingshire. But tragedy seems to follow Cassie no matter where she goes or what she does, and the evil group of witches known as the Anarchy are very interested in her attendance at the school. As Cassie trains to fight for the forces of good to defeat those that are evil and save the ones she loves, she learns that it all comes down to her choice. Will she choose the right path and save them all?
This book was exhilarating, deep, raw, and down right dirty. It was the sexy, moody world of my dreams full of magical beings.
I was immediately sucked into Cassie's world just waiting to learn about the depths of her tragedies and how powerful she could be. I loved the progression of her character as she began her story as a closed-off bud, and blossomed into something far more intricate and beautiful. Having her open up to people like her roommate Nora really brought her to life from her tragic past and definitely made me want to be their best friends. I was also very invested in Cassie's love interests and held my breath every time a "will they, won't they" scene came into play. I spent days after finishing the book just going back over the slow development of her romances and how hard it all made me feel. Not only that, but there were some VERY steamy scenes that I also happened to enjoy. I would be lying if I said they didn't help drive me to binge this entire book in one evening.
"The electricity between us was intoxicating as our magic swirled together between us. I had never felt so alive in my life. My body ached to feel his lips against mine. We were both the moons puppets now as my lips parted slightly. He grabbed my waist with one arm and treaded with the other."
One of the other biggest things that really stuck out to me was how well the story had flowed. The plot was well defined, and though I had guessed some of the plot twists before they happened, I was still left pleasantly surprised throughout the story. There were some very shocking scenes (see my content/trigger warnings below for context) that left me gutted and feeling emotionally hollow, but I think they really added to the uniqueness of the story without adding any cheap shock factor. Some of these fictional scenes really shed light on some very real, nonfictional issues that as a reader I really appreciate because it only adds to the normalization of talking about these topics.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well the author focused on certain subject matters, such as fight scenes and witchcraft, and not only made them readable, but also made me appreciate the time and effort spent on examining those subjects before writing about them. If you're a HP fan like me, then you may have also been bored to death every time you read a Quidditch scene. I am happy to report that the fight scenes in Between the Shadow and the Soul are no where near that kind of snore fest and kept me turning the page just as quickly as I had for the steamy scenes. I just thought they were so well written, and as someone who dabbles in witchcraft, I was pleasantly surprised by the accuracy of herbs, spells, and tactical fighting.
There were a few things that dropped my rating down. In the beginning, the character dialog was very awkward and clunky, and Cassie's voice also seemed somewhat immature compared to her age of 22 years old. But as the story went on, this actually got better. Dialog flowed smoothly and we watched as the characters got to know each other while Cassie grew up. Along with this, there were also a few times where I had to push past some cliché plot moments where things just magically (no pun intended) fell into our protagonists lap with a big bow wrapped around it. Lastly, I am a reader who has a big beef with sexual scenes where there is no mention of protection. Its a small pet peeve that I don't hold against authors personally, but as a progressive romance reader, I appreciate the thought that goes into mentioning it. Not necessarily a spoiler (I hope), but the sexual scenes in this book did not mention the use of contraceptives, but they did however touch on consent!
The fantasy romance lover that I am ate this book up, and I am anxiously awaiting for its release so I can buy a copy to reread so that I can feel all of the feels again. Not only that, but I will need something to do until book number two is ready! The ending was left at one of those cliff hangers that has you gouging your eyes out just thinking about all of the questions you have. I'm still thinking about it two weeks after finishing the book, trying to fill in all of the blanks in my soul. I can't wait to dive back into Cassie's mind as she continues to fight and explore her dark magical world.
Content/Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault, rape, suicide, death, bullying, abuse, mention of drug use, drinking, violence/fight scenes, swearing, sex/sexual encounters
I was provided an ARC for review by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2021
Really enjoyed reading this book! I was a little confused at the beginning but slowly the pieces started falling into place and it all clicked. The ending broke my heart and then left me with a cliffhanger and mound of questions. The book is filled with a wonderfully diverse set of characters that you grow to love (or hate) more and more with each page. I can't wait for book #2!
March 28, 2021
I flew through this captivating book! I loved the twists and turns and cannot wait for the next book. Talk about a cliff hanger! Ciara write faster!
May 14, 2021
***** May Contain Minor Spoilers *****
I really enjoyed this debut novel by Ciara Blowers. For me, it has two of the most important facets of a good novel: 1) Characters that I care about and can easily get invested in. 2) Addictive factor - or in other words... a consistent dose of intrigue that makes me want to keep turning the pages and advance the story.
The book starts with a tragic accident that the main character, Cassie, experienced as a child. I really liked this opening, because you get a sense of a foreboding mystery, but just a hint. Something doesn't seem right about what happened. We then see her as a 23-year-old adult traveling overseas to attend the same magic school where her parents went. Cassie's untrained and undisciplined, but clearly powerful and gifted.
I think it's unique to have someone start at a magic school at the age of 23, so I felt that was neat. It's fairly common for these types of books to focus more on teens (or do a gradual progression like Harry Potter if it's a long series).
That said, Cassie sometimes feels more like a 16-year-old with how she speaks and thinks. This is more evident in the first half of the book, and definitely improves as it progresses. It made me wonder, though, if the author first started writing the character to be a younger age, and then later decided that the story needed her to be older. There are scenes of adult content, and adult language is sprinkled throughout, so the book feels geared more toward a New Adult/Adult audience. The dialogue also sometimes feels a bit out of place, but again, this improves as the story progresses. These are just nit-picks and did not affect my overall enjoyment of the story and the characters.
There are some common tropes like a love triangle, a prophecy, and chosen one stuff, BUT... I think they're all done well. I don't mind the tropes as long as the author handles them in fun ways, and I definitely think Blowers does. Also, I got the hint that some of these tropes will be explored in unique ways in future books. I don't want to say too much because then we get into more specific spoilers.
There are some twists in the book, and while they didn't come as huge surprises, they were fun to see play out. Fair warning, the book ends on a cliffhanger, and it's definitely a doozy. It made me long for the 2nd book, but I'll have to wait for now. I'm looking forward to it.
I really enjoyed this debut novel by Ciara Blowers. For me, it has two of the most important facets of a good novel: 1) Characters that I care about and can easily get invested in. 2) Addictive factor - or in other words... a consistent dose of intrigue that makes me want to keep turning the pages and advance the story.
The book starts with a tragic accident that the main character, Cassie, experienced as a child. I really liked this opening, because you get a sense of a foreboding mystery, but just a hint. Something doesn't seem right about what happened. We then see her as a 23-year-old adult traveling overseas to attend the same magic school where her parents went. Cassie's untrained and undisciplined, but clearly powerful and gifted.
I think it's unique to have someone start at a magic school at the age of 23, so I felt that was neat. It's fairly common for these types of books to focus more on teens (or do a gradual progression like Harry Potter if it's a long series).
That said, Cassie sometimes feels more like a 16-year-old with how she speaks and thinks. This is more evident in the first half of the book, and definitely improves as it progresses. It made me wonder, though, if the author first started writing the character to be a younger age, and then later decided that the story needed her to be older. There are scenes of adult content, and adult language is sprinkled throughout, so the book feels geared more toward a New Adult/Adult audience. The dialogue also sometimes feels a bit out of place, but again, this improves as the story progresses. These are just nit-picks and did not affect my overall enjoyment of the story and the characters.
There are some common tropes like a love triangle, a prophecy, and chosen one stuff, BUT... I think they're all done well. I don't mind the tropes as long as the author handles them in fun ways, and I definitely think Blowers does. Also, I got the hint that some of these tropes will be explored in unique ways in future books. I don't want to say too much because then we get into more specific spoilers.
There are some twists in the book, and while they didn't come as huge surprises, they were fun to see play out. Fair warning, the book ends on a cliffhanger, and it's definitely a doozy. It made me long for the 2nd book, but I'll have to wait for now. I'm looking forward to it.
March 27, 2021
So my true rating is 4.5. And I only took .5 off bc the time flow in the beginning of the book confused me. I thought it was a matter of days when it was weeks. No biggie tho!
Just gonna say, this was a ride of giddiness, anger, total deviation and heartbreak, hope, and total badassery. And a cliffhanger to dive off of!!
Just gonna say, this was a ride of giddiness, anger, total deviation and heartbreak, hope, and total badassery. And a cliffhanger to dive off of!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2021
Read an ARC sent to me by the author. I'll write a full review after I read the finished version!
June 1, 2021
This book was very mixed. I wasn’t enjoying it at first but by the end I was in love! I can’t wait to read the sequel!!!
September 5, 2021
This was quite the enjoyable book. It’s started off slow, but quickly picked up. I’m looking forward to the next one to continue the story
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews